MILLION pound misfit Laurent Charvet has been given the chance to resurrect his Manchester City career.

MILLION pound misfit Laurent Charvet has been given the chance to resurrect his Manchester City career.

The French defender endured a nightmare first season at Maine Road following his move from Newcastle United and his confidence evaporated after becoming a target for abuse from a section of the Blues' supporters.

Manager Joe Royle took the unhappy full-back out of the firing line at the end of last season and Charvet's days at Maine Road seemed numbered when he was placed on the transfer list at his own request.

But Charvet has reported back for pre-season training and been told by new boss Kevin Keegan to put last season's disaster behind him and win over his critics.

slate wiped clean

Says City's assistant manager Willie Donachie: ''Charvet is still a good player - a much better player than he looked at times last season.

''It did get to the stage where he felt that things were not going to work out for him at Maine Road and that a change of environment was what he needed to get his career back on track.

''But Kevin Keegan has told Laurent, and all the other players, that the slate is clean, he is not concerned about what went on before he arrived at the club.

''There is no escaping from the fact that he did come in for some heavy criticism from the supporters last season but that is a battle only Charvet can win.

''It comes down to strength of character and determination. Every player, no matter how good, is going to take some flak from the fans at some stage of his career."

fight for your place

But, Donachie said he has no doubt that Charvet has the ability to help City win back a place in the Premiership and he also challenged Richard Edgehill to stay and fight for a first team place.

"Both of them are better players than they showed last season and we would like them to stay and provide competition for the right-back berth which seems to have become a problem position for us over the past couple of years,'' he said.

The re-emergence of either Charvet or Edghill as first-team regulars next season would be a welcome bonus for manager Keegan and could even save the Blues a small fortune in the transfer market.

For while Aussie international Simon Colomiso would appear to have all the credentials to solve the ''jinxed'' right-back problem, Donachie has hinted that the 22-year-old capture from South Melbourne could play a surprise role in Keegan's promotion campaign.

''He will need time to adapt to the pace of English soccer but he looks a very accomplished player who is comfortable on the ball.

''He looks like the type of player who can operate in a variety of positions on the right-hand side of the pitch and it is not cast in stone that he will be used at right-back next season - particularly if Charvet and Edghill start to show the form they are capable of.''